Product description

You never dreamed being the boss would be so hard. You're caught in a web of conflicting expectations from subordinates, your supervisor, peers, and customers. You're not alone. As Linda Hill and Kent Lineback reveal in Being the Boss, becoming an effective manager is a painful, difficult journey. It's trial and error, endless effort, and slowly acquired personal insight. Many managers never complete the journey. At best, they just learn to get by. At worst, they become terrible bosses. This new book explains how to avoid that fate, by mastering three imperatives: * Manage yourself: Learn that management isn't about getting things done yourself. It's about accomplishing things through others. * Manage a network: Understand how power and influence work in your organization and build a network of mutually beneficial relationships to navigate your company's complex political environment. * Manage a team: Forge a high-performing "we" out of all the "I"s who report to you. Packed with compelling stories and practical guidance, Being the Boss is an indispensable guide for not only first-time managers but all managers seeking to master the most daunting challenges of leadership.

Author information

Linda A. Hill is the Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, the faculty chair of the Leadership Initiative, and author of Becoming a Manager. Kent Lineback, now a coach, writer, and collaborator, spent nearly thirty years as a manager and executive in business and government. He is the coauthor (with Randy Komisar) of the bestseller The Monk and the Riddle.

Review quote

Named one of Five Best Business Books to Read for Your Career in 2011 by the Wall Street Journal. "modern classic" - Financial Times "This book can well serve both beginning and experienced managers as a guide for their own continued development. It is engaging to read, asks the right questions, and incorporates a compendium of the best research on leadership." -- Graziadio Business Report "a well-written, comprehensive guide to finding ways to succeed on this often-perilous journey." -- Korn/Ferry Briefings Listed under "Summer reading suggestions for federal leaders" - Washington Post "Being the Boss gives a cleared-eye assessment of the paradoxes and complexities of being the boss and offers practical advice on the questions and techniques that can help managers become more effective. "Being the Boss" is an insightful and readily accessible book" -- Forbes.com "...engaging with a precise presentation of concepts and plenty of real-world examples." - CEO Update "It's a well-presented title that should prove especially useful for those assuming management positions for the first time." -- THE IRISH TIMES

Table of contents

Introduction: Where Are You On Your Journey? 1: Your 3 Imperatives as a Manager Part I: Manage Yourself 2: I'm the Boss! 3: I'm Your Friend! 4: Can People Trust You? Part I Summary: Where are you on your journey? Part II: Manage Your Network 5: Understand the Reality of Your Organization 6: Weave Your Own Web of Influence 7: Don't Forget Your Boss Part II Summary: Where are you on your journey? Part III: Manage Your Team 8: Define the Future 9: Be Clear How Your Team Works 10: Your Team Members Are Individuals Too 11: Manage Through Your Daily Work Part III Summary: Where are you on your journey? 12: Completing Your Journey